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March 24, 2026
肌肉jīròu(ji1rou4)
肌肉 (jīròu) refers to the muscle tissue in the body that enables movement and supports bodily functions. It is commonly used in contexts related to fitness, health, and anatomy, often discussing strength training, physical activity, or medical conditions affecting muscles.
Frequency#2911DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, physical fitness and martial arts are highly valued, making knowledge of terms like 肌肉 relevant in discussions about health and wellness trends, including traditional practices like Tai Chi.
Memory Tip
Imagine strong arms flexing muscles, resembling the character 肌. The radical 肉 (ròu) means 'flesh', and the top part, 肌, can be visualized as two arms, indicating strength. Associating 'ji' with 'gym' can help recall 'muscle' related to physical fitness.
Meanings of 肌肉
jīròu(ji1rou4)
1muscle
2flesh
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About 肌肉
肌肉Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2911Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 肌肉
Podcast: 肌肉
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AI Study Notes for 肌肉
Quick Contrast
肌肉 (jīròu) vs 肌腱 (jījiàn) — use 肌肉 when referring specifically to muscle tissue, while 肌腱 refers to tendons that connect muscles to bones.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine strong arms flexing muscles, resembling the character 肌. The radical 肉 (ròu) means 'flesh', and the top part, 肌, can be visualized as two arms, indicating strength. Associating 'ji' with 'gym' can help recall 'muscle' related to physical fitness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 肌肉 with merely 肉 (ròu), which refers to meat more generally. This term is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health. It's common in phrases like '锻炼肌肉' (strengthen muscles).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 肌肉 connects with other health-related vocabulary like 健康 (jiànkāng, health) and 锻炼 (duànliàn, to exercise). Students should practice using it in sentences discussing fitness or health.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, physical fitness and martial arts are highly valued, making knowledge of terms like 肌肉 relevant in discussions about health and wellness trends, including traditional practices like Tai Chi.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 肉 in place of 肌肉 when discussing physical fitness. For example, saying '我想要更强的肉' (I want stronger meat) instead of '我想要更强的肌肉' (I want stronger muscles) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肌肉
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Grammar Patterns of 肌肉
肌肉 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Body builders shave their chests to show off their muscles.
Cultural Notes for 肌肉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, physical fitness and martial arts are highly valued, making knowledge of terms like 肌肉 relevant in discussions about health and wellness trends, including traditional practices like Tai Chi.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike Western cultures that may emphasize bodybuilding and aesthetics, Chinese culture often focuses on balance and health in physical fitness, leading to different perceptions of muscle and strength.
Frequently Asked Questions about 肌肉
肌肉 specifically refers to muscle tissue, while 肉 more generally means meat.
You can say '我在锻炼我的肌肉' which means 'I am training my muscles.'
Yes, 肌肉 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in health and fitness discussions.
